Anchor-post and stretcher.



APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1906.

7n: NORRIS PITB'KJ co-. WASHINGTON, m c.

ANCHOR-POST AND STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed June 9, 1906. Serial No. 320,948.

To ail whom, 2125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK UNDERWOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Anchor-Posts and Stretehers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fences which are made of wire supported betweenposts and stretched to a high degree of tension thereon. While it isadapted to all styles of fence of this kind, it is particularly designedto be used in connection with those fences which comprise a multiplicityof longitudinal wires held at suitable distances apart by verticalstay-pieces. The longitudinal wires in such fences are usually providedwith tension curves consisting of spiral portions or oll'sets, whichgive elasticity, but which it is necessary to put under tension in orderto prevent the fence from sagging and to take up any slack which mayarise from temporary stretching of the fence either by mechanical strainor by changes of temperature. In erecting this class of fence it iscustomary to attach one end to an anchor-post and to use a stretchingdevice attached to a second anchor-post at the other end of the fence,to which after the wire is stretched it is attached and secured undertension, after which the stretching apparatus is removed. The apparatusfor this purpose is more or less cumbersome and is provided withclamping means to which the wires are temporarily attached during thestretching process and until they are secured to the post. l/Vhenremoved, there is no. means to restretch the fence in case of sagging ornecessary repairs except by using the same or a similar device,entailing much less of time and labor which is especially skilled inthis class of work.

It is the object of my invention to provide an anchor-post which, withcertain attachments forming a part of my invention, shall itself providethe stretching means, which is at all times adapted to loosen orrestretch the fence in case repairs or a different tension is desired,and by which the fence may be erected and attached quickly and easilywithout the necessity of skilled labor to manipulate it.

The princi les of my invention are illustrated in the drawings, in whichFigure 1 shows a side view of a fence when in position and attached tomy improved anchor-post and stretching device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged topplan of the post, ratchet, and

strut attachment. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. at is aplan of the bottom anchorage or bearing. Fig. 5 shows a side bearing.Fig. 6 is a crank or wrench for turning the ratchet-wheel, and Fig. 7 isa fractional view of a post with wire-securing strip attached.

Further describing my invention with reference to the drawings, in whichlike charac ters of reference denote like parts throughout, 1 is acircular post, which may be of any suitable or convenient size ormaterial, though I prefer to use gas-pipe or other metal tubing. Thelower part thereof is set into the ground to a proper de )th and thelower end pivoted upon a base-plate 2, which may have theupwardly-projecting lug 3 fitted to the inside diameter of the pipe orpost and which should be mounted upon the foundation-block 1. A casing 5of suitable size may surround the post to prevent the earth from beingpacked against it, so as to interfere with its free movement. I do notconsider this necessary, but find that in practice it may be omitted ifdesired.

A broad bearing to support the post against side strain is illustratedin Fig. 5, in which 6 represents a support of suitable size or shape,with a bearing-block 7 mounted thereon having a curvature correspondingto the outside curvature of the post and which should be set in theground near the surface to take the strain caused by stretching thefence, as hereinafter described.

An abutment for bracing the post is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which thehead 11 is provided with a lug 13. The head 11 is attached "to the lowerpart of the post by the rods 14 and 15, which are centrally hookedtogether at 16. to each other and interchangeable and provided withthreaded ends and nuts 17. The lug 13 is inserted into a pipe or timberforming the strut 20, which at the other end is se cured to a suitablebearing-block 21, which is mounted on the post 22, placed. at a properdistance from the strut. A cross-bracing of the two posts may beeffected by means of the tiewire 23, which may be attached to thesecondary post 22 at the upper part and secured to the anchor-post bybeing passed therearound at 24, security against sliding upward beingafforded by hooking it under the attaching portion of the rods 14 and15.

Fitted to the top of the post is a ratchetwheel 30, having the toothedprojections 31 These are preferably similar on one face and the similarbut reversed teeth 32 on the other face. The inside diameter of theratchet-wheel is such as to allow it to fit snugly over the post 1,which is provided with notches on the upper edge into which fit lugs orinwardly-projecting parts 35 on the ratchet-wheel 30. The saidratchet-wheel is provided with a peripheral groove 36, and the head 11has a correspond ing projection 37, adapted to fit in said groove andprevent the ratchet-wheel from vertical displacement.

A pawl 38 is pivoted at 39 and provided with a counterweight 40, so thatthe point thereof will engage the notches on the under side of theratchet-wheel and hold the same securely against reverse movement whenthe strain of the wire is thrown upon the post to which it is attached.

An instrument for tightening the ratchetwheel is shown in Fig. 6. A bodyportion 42 is provided with oppositely-placed but conformable teeth 43and 44, while sleeves 45, of suitable external diameter to fit theinside of the anchor-post, project upwardly and downwardly from the bodyportion. Holes 46 in said sleeves afford means by which a bar may beinserted for turning the instrument.

Then it is desired to stretch a fence by the mechanism above described,the separate wires are secured to the post. This may be done byproviding properly-spaced openings, into which the bent or hooked endsof the wires may be inserted.

Another practical means of securing the wires to the post and one bywhich the spac ing of the wires may be varied as desired is illustratedin Fig. 7, in which 47 is a strip of material applied longitudinally tothe face of the post 1 and secured in place by screws 48 or othersimilar devices. The securingpoints need not necessarily be neartogether, but will ordinarily be suflicient if at the extreme ends ofthe strip. The wires are placed under the securing-strip at properdistances apart and bent thereover. When the post is turned so that thewires are wrapped around it, they will inclose the strip, and the strainof the wires, which is constantly in creasing, will secure the strip tothe post against possibility of displacement. The proper end of thetightening instrument being placed downward, the sleeve 45 inserted intothe post, and a bar placed in the openings 46 of the upwardly-projectingsleeve, and the ratchet-wheel is thereby turned, winding the fence uponthe post, while the backward movement is prevented by the dog 38. WVhenthe fence is sufficiently strained, the tightening instrument isremoved, and the fence will remain tightly strained until released, ifnecessary. If it is desired to use the post in stretching a'fence fromthe opposite direction, the double-faced ratcaettightening instrument,which is duplicately formed, will also be reversed in use to correspond,and the post will be turned to the right instead of the left, as firstdescribed.

[ claim 1. In an anchor-post and stretcher; .a rotatable post, means forsecuring fencing thereto, means for rotating the post, a brace to engagethe post rigidly secured to the ground at a distance therefrom, and means for locking the post to the brace against reverse rotation.

2. in an anchor-post and stretcher, a post rotatable in the ground,means for attaching fencing thereto, a ratchet wheel or collar on thepost independent of the fencing-attaching means, a brace to engage thecollar secured against rotation by engagement external to the post, andmeans for mutual engagement between the brace and the collar.

3. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a circular column attached to androtatable in the ground, a ratchet-collar secured to the column, a braceto engage the ratchet-collar secured against rotation by meansindependent thereof, and a dog on the brace to engage theratchet-collar.

4. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a rotatablecolumn, a brace and head to support the column, a dog on the brace-head,said dog and brace-head being adapted to mutual pivotal engagement oneither side of the head, and an invertible collar on the column, saidcollar having conformably but oppositely placed ratchet-teeth on theupper and lower faces respectively adapted to be engaged by said dog.

5. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a rotatablecolumn, a brace therefor, a brace-head to engage the column, pivots oneither side of the brace-head, a dog mountable on said pivots, and aninvertible collar on the column, said collar having conformably butoppositely placed ratchetteeth on the upper and lower faces respectivelyand adapted to be engaged by said do E. in an anchor-post and stretcher,a circular column attached to and rotatable in the ground, aratchet-collar secured to the column, a brace for the post, a dog on thebrace to engage the ratchet-collar, and a turning wrench having acentral body portion with upper and lower faces, said faces havingoppositely-placed but conformed teeth adapted to engage the teeth on thecollar.

7. in an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of an anchor-block,a column rotatable thereon, a brace for the column to engage the headthereof, and a tie-rod to connect the anchor-block and the brace.

S. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a column, afoundation-block therefor, a ratchet-wheel on the upper part of wheelmay be reversed, in which case the l the post, a brace-head engaging theratchet- Wheel, a brace to engage the brace-head, and sleeve on thebearing-block, a post adapted a tie-rod to secure the brace-head to theto rotate in said sleeve, and means for securfoundation-block. ing thepost against reverse rotation.

9. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a foun- In Witness whereof I havehereunto set my 5 dation-block secured in the ground, a col hand, this2d day of June, A. D. 1906, in the I 5 umn pivotally mounted thereon,and a bearpresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

lng-block in the ground adapted to engage FRANK UN DERl/VOOD. the postmidway of its length. l/Vitnesses:

10. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a O. K. CHAMBERLAIN,

1o foundation-block secured in the ground, a A. S. PHILLIPS.

